Starting from a low base

Lee&Nicky · I Like It Here Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 70

This site is absolutely fantastic! I have learned so much more from the postings here than on "official websites".

My wife and I have visited New Zealand a few times and love the place. As it seems with a lot of people, we are fed up with the UK and are looking for a safer environment to bring our children up in and also better quality of life (sound familiar?). Unfortunately we seem to have little going for us in terms of being allowed to settle permanently. The main plus point in our favour is our capital base, approx NZ$700k, not bad but not quite enough for investor status.

Both my wife and I work in the finance field, but quite specialised - tax. Oh dear, doesn't sound like a good prospect as far as skills transference does it!

I have been considering doing something completely different (call it a premature mid-life crisis - I'm 38). Teaching is what I want to do, but that could necessitate going back to full time education, possibly for up to 5 years. So my thoughts were, in the absence of being able to attempt long term residency through any other route (and I am taking advice from a NZ based immigration consultant on all my options), me and the family come in on a student visa and I enrol at Wellington or Auckland Uni to train as a teacher, with the longer term plan of teaching in NZ. I reckon over a 5 year period I would burn half my capital base (once interest on the capital has been taken into account). But what are my chances of getting accepted as a mature international student? What are my chances of finding a teaching job in NZ at the end of it? Am I completely barmy, is it just too much of a long shot? Is an average of NZ£75k-80k for a family of four to live on a year reasonable? Am I rambling - yes I am.

What if we were really brave and just sold up and gave ourselves a year to find something. What a risk, but what an experience! Confused

Interested to hear from anyone on experiences, advice, tips. Be brutally honest, I need to plant my feet in reality as at the moment all my family have are dreams.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can contribute.

SIMAKRA · Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 9:42 pm Post subject:

Hi,

check the web-sites of the Universities,
some courses only take 3 years.
Also while studying, you are allowed to work 15 hours per week.
For immigration purposes a study in NZ gives you extra point,
so with the money you have, you should be able to make it.

S

Lee&Nicky · I Like It Here Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 70

S,

Thanks very much for your response. I can't help thinking their is an opportunity out there to be grasped, my wife sees only the downsides at the moment.

I have looked at websites for Wellington and Auckland Universities, with Wellington looking marginally better in terms of its teacher training offering. Because of my academic background I will almost certainly have to do a one year foundation course, combined with a minimum three year undergrad degree course, looking at 4 years. The course I have my eye on includes an additional one year diploma, which would give me the opportunity to teach at either primary or secondary level (improving job prospects in NZ?), thats how I get to a 5 year plan.

If I did go to Wellington, does anybody have a feel for whether NZ$75k pa to live on would be enough? I reckon university fees will cost me circa NZ$17k pa, rent $20k pa (decent 3/4 bed house in an OK area). This leaves circa NZ$38k, which seems ample based on typical "cost of living" tables I have seen, but what would be the reality (for two adults and two young kids)?

Does anyone have a feel for what an annual comprehensive medical insurance policy may cost (we all have good health records)?

Any thoughts, views, experiences much appreciated.

Lee

Sazzle · Posted: Sun May 30, 2004 10:31 pm Post subject:

Whatever you do, put some of your capitqal into purchase of your home and car etc.

Its better to do that than rent. And if it all falls around your ears you will still have some of your capital left.

Lee&Nicky · I Like It Here Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 70

Thanks Sazzle,

I had assumed that we would not be able to buy a property during any stay on a student visa, but that does not seem to be the case. So I agree with you, maybe rent for six months to get a feel for the place and then buy.

Lee&Nicky